near to Styal, Cheshire, Great Britain

Styal Primary School and Oak Cottages

Looking along the steps of Oak Cottages, towards Styal County Primary School. The cottages and school were built in the early 1820s by Samuel Greg, owner of Quarry Bank Mill, to house the workers and educate the children. They form part of the estate developed by the Greg family and donated to the National Trust in 1939. They form part of the most complete and least altered factory colony of the Industrial Revolution.

Quarry Bank Mill, on the River Bollin in the village of Styal, was founded by Samuel Greg in 1784 for the spinning of cotton and, by the time of his retirement in 1832, it was the largest cotton spinning business in the UK. The mill was originally powered by a water wheel. During the 19th century, this was supplemented by steam engines as the water supply from the Bollin was inconsistent during the summer months.

In 1939, Quarry Bank Mill and the surrounding estate were donated to the National Trust and are open to the public. The mill is one of the best preserved textile mills of the Industrial Revolution period and now serves as a museum of the cotton industry. Commercial production at the mill continued until 1959.

Quarry Bank Mill has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building.

Link - Quarry Bank Mill and Styal Estate (National Trust)Link - Quarry Bank Mill (Wikipedia article with more information about the history of the mill and estate)